Electro-active spectacles and method of fabricating same

ABSTRACT

A composite lens assembly comprising an electro-active lens assembly, a first lens wafer, and a second lens wafer is provided. The electro-active lens assembly has an upper substrate layer with a planar upper surface and a lower substrate layer with a planar lower surface. The first lens wafer has a planar lower wafer surface adjacent and parallel to the planar upper surface of the upper substrate layer of the electro-active lens assembly. The second lens wafer has a planar upper, wafer surface adjacent and parallel to the planar lower surface of the lower substrate layer of the electro-active lens assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application60/623,947 filed Nov. 2, 2004, which is incorporated herein by referencein its entirety.

This application incorporates by reference in their entirety all of thefollowing applications, provisional applications, and patents: U.Sapplication Ser. No. 11/232,551 filed Sep. 22, 2005; U.S. Pat. No.6,918,670 issued Jul. 19, 2005; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/183,454filed Jul. 18, 2005; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/692,270 filedJul. 21, 2005; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/687,342 filed Jun. 6,2005; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/687,341 filed Jun. 6, 2005;U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/685,407 filed May 31, 2005; U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/679,241 filed May 10, 2005; U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/674,702 filed Apr. 26, 2005; U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/673,758 filed Apr. 22, 2005; U.S.application Ser. No. 11/109,360 filed Apr. 19, 2005; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/669,403 filed Apr. 8, 2005; U S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/667,094 filed Apr. 1, 2005; U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/666,167 filed Mar. 30, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 6,871,951issued Mar. 29, 2005; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/091,104 filed Mar.28, 2005; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/661,925 filed Mar. 16,2005; U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/659,431 filed Mar. 9, 2005;U.S. application Ser. No. 11/063,323 filed Feb. 22, 2005; U.S. Pat. No.6,857,741 issued Feb. 22, 2005; U.S. Pat. No. 6,851,805 issued Feb. 8,2005; U.S. application Ser. No. 11/036,501 filed Jan. 14, 2005; U.S.application Ser. No. 11/030,690 filed Jan. 6, 2005; U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/996,781 filed Nov. 24, 2004; U S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/623,947 filed Nov. 2, 2004; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/924,619filed Aug. 24, 2004; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/918,496 filed Aug. 13,2004; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/863,949 filed Jun. 9, 2004; U.S. Pat.No. 6,733,130 issued May 11, 2004; U.S. application Ser. No. 10/772,917filed Feb. 5, 2004; U.S. Pat. No. 6,619,799 issued Sep. 16, 2003; U.S.application Ser. No. 10/664,112 filed Aug. 20, 2003; U.S. applicationSer. No. 10/627,828 filed Jul. 25, 2003; U.S. application Ser. No.10/387,143 filed Mar. 12, 2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,517,203 issued Feb. 11,2003; U.S. Pat. No. 6,491,391 issue Dec. 10, 2002; U.S. Pat. No.6,491,394 issued Dec. 10, 2002; and U.S. application Ser. No. 10/263,707filed Oct. 4, 2002.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to spectacles and, in particularto spectacles comprising electro-active lenses.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An illustrative aspect of the invention provides a composite lensassembly comprising an electro-active lens assembly, a first lens wafer,and a second lens wafer. The electro-active lens assembly has an uppersubstrate layer with a planar upper surface and a lower substrate layerwith a planar lower surface. The first lens wafer has a planar lowerwafer surface adjacent and parallel to the planar upper surface of theupper substrate layer of the electro-active lens assembly. The secondlens wafer has a planar upper wafer surface adjacent and parallel to theplanar lower surface of the lower substrate layer of the electro-activelens assembly.

This and other aspects will become apparent from the followingdescription of the preferred embodiment taken in conjunction with thefollowing drawings, although variations and modifications may beeffected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novelconcepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more fully understood by reading thefollowing detailed description together with the accompanying drawings,in which like reference indicators are used to designate like elements.

FIG. 1 is a section view of an electro-active lens assembly that may beused in or in conjunction with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the electro-active lens assembly of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3A is an expanded view of a composite lens assembly according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3B displays an assembled view of the composite lens assembly ofFIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is an expanded view of a composite lens assembly according to anembodiment of the invention

FIG. 4B is an assembled view the composite lens assembly of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 displays a composite lens assembly according to an embodiment ofthe invention mounted inside of a spectacle frame

FIG. 6 is a section view of an electro-active lens assembly that may beused in or in conjunction with embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 7A is a bottom view of the electro-active lens assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 7B is a top view of the electro-active lens assembly of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8A is an expanded view of a composite lens assembly according to anembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 8B is an assembled view the composite lens assembly of FIG. 8A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter; various embodiments of the invention will be described. Asused herein, any term in the singular may be interpreted in the plural,and alternately, any term in the plural may be interpreted to be in thesingular. The terms “upper” and “lower” refer merely to the relativeorientation of the elements as shown in a particular figure, and do notimply any required final orientation of the electro-active lens assemblyrelative to the environment. Similarly, the terms “first” and “second”are used merely for convenience, and do not imply any required finalorientation or order of assembly.

Embodiments of the invention provide spectacles formed as compositeassemblies of electro-active lens elements and passive lens elements. Asused herein, the term “electro-active lens” refers to a lens whoseoptical properties may be changed or modified with the application ofelectricity. Of particular interest are electro-active lenses formedfrom liquid crystal lens elements that may be configured for correctionof any of a variety of vision problems.

The fabrication of a liquid crystal electro-active lens assembly and theincorporation of such a lens assembly into a composite lens assemblypresents a number of challenges. For example, the structure of theelectro-active lens element must be established so as to control thethickness of the liquid crystal layer and so as to allow edging (i.e.,removal of material around the edges) of the composite electro-activelens assembly. Edging of lenses for spectacles is very important becauseedging properly aligns and positions the lenses (inside of the spectacleframe) relative to the eyes.

Another challenge is that electrical communication must be establishedamong the electrical components (e.g., driver chip, contacts andelectrodes) of the electro-active portion of the composite lensassembly. As will be discussed, this may be done through vias (smallholes) which may be perpendicular to the layers, and thus avoid the edgeof the electro-active lens assembly. This internal electricalcommunication may be similar to multi-layered integrated circuit design,wherein multiple layers are physically separated, but may communicatewith each other through vias as needed.

Yet another challenge is the physical integration of the electro-activelens assembly into the composite lens assembly. In some embodiments, thecomposite lens assembly may be secured (held together) using screws orbolts, and these screws or bolts may serve as a convenient electricalpath for the power supply, In this case, the composite lens assembly maybe edged for proper positioning inside of a spectacle frame.

Embodiments of the invention will now be discussed in more detail.

FIG. 1 displays an electro-active lens element assembly 100 that may beused in or in conjunction with embodiments of the invention. Theelectro-active lens assembly 100 is particularly adapted for use in thecomposite lens assemblies discussed below. The electro-active lensassembly 100 is essentially a laminate structure with both powercontacts 180, 182 positioned on its lower surface. The layers of thislaminate structure in order from the upper surface to the lower surfaceare:

-   -   a first glass or plastic substrate 110,    -   a first electrode layer 120,    -   a first alignment layer 130,    -   a liquid crystal layer comprising a spacer 140 surrounding a        liquid crystal 142,    -   a second alignment layer 150,    -   a second electrode layer 160,    -   a second glass or plastic substrate 170,    -   a contact layer comprising a positive contact 182 for battery        power, and a negative contact 180 for battery power,    -   a driver chip 190.

The driver chip 190 is connected to the first electrode layer 120through a via connection 186, and the driver chip 190 is also connectedto the second electrode layer 160 through multiple via connections 184.

The driver chip 190 may be positioned in another layer, for exampleinside of second glass or plastic substrate 170 with appropriate viaconnections to other elements. Alternately, the drive chip 190 may bepositioned on the same layer as the second electrode layer, in order tominimize the number of necessary vias.

The first glass or plastic substrate 110, which may be referred to asthe upper substrate 110, may be substantially flat on both the upperside and the lower side. The first glass or plastic substrate 110 mayprovide structural support for the other elements, and may provideelectrical insulation for the other elements. The substantially flatlower side of the upper substrate 110 is adjacent to the substantiallyflat upper side of first electrode layer 120.

The first electrode layer 120 may be a solid electrode, and may serve asa reference electrode relative to the second electrode layer 160. Thesubstantially flat lower side of first electrode layer 120 may serve asa substrate to attach alignment layer molecules. The lower side of thefirst electrode layer 120 is adjacent to the substantially flat upperside of the first alignment layer 130.

The first alignment layer 130 comprises materials that aid the alignmentof the liquid crystal layer 142. The substantially flat lower surface offirst alignment layer 130 is adjacent to liquid crystal 142 and spacer140.

The optical properties of liquid crystal 142 may be changed by electricand magnetic fields. Alternately, the spacer 140 may be thicker thanshown in FIG. 1, and may encircle all of the following; the firstalignment layer 130, the liquid crystal 142, and the second alignmentlayer 150. The substantially flat lower side of liquid crystal layer 142is adjacent to the substantially flat upper side of the second alignmentlayer 150.

Note that material may be removed from around the edge of theelectro-active lens assembly without contacting or destroying the liquidcrystal 142. Specifically, some of the spacer 140 may be removed oredged without contacting or destroying liquid crystal 142.

The second alignment layer 150 comprises materials that aid thealignment of the liquid crystal layer 142. The substantially flat lowerside of alignment layer 150 is adjacent to the substantially flat upperside of second electrode layer 160.

The second electrode layer 160 may be solid, or may be segmented orpatterned. For example, the second electrode layer 160 may beindividually controlled pixels patterned into an arbitrary array, or maybe patterned into other useful patterns such as a set of concentriccircles. The multiple via connections 184 from the driver chip 190 mayindividually control the pixels or patterns. Note that the firstelectrode layer 120 may serve as a reference electrode in contrast toany voltages on the second electrode layer 160. The electric fieldcreated between the second electrode layer 160 and the first electrodelayer 120 may affect the optical qualities (such as index of refractionor transmissivity) of the liquid crystal 142. The electrodes 120 and 160may have spacers around them in order to insulate them from the edge,and in order to allow edging of the electro-active lens assembly 100.The substantially flat lower side of the second electrode 160 isadjacent to the substantially flat upper side of the second glass orplastic substrate 170.

The second glass or plastic substrate 170, which may be referred to asthe lower substrate 170 may provide structural support for the otherelements, and may provide electrical insulation for the other elements.The substantially flat lower side of the lower substrate 170 is adjacentto the substantially flat upper side of positive contact for batterypower 182 and negative contact for battery power 180. In thisembodiment, the positive contact 182 and negative contact 180 are on thesame layer, but are not conductively attached directly together. Bothcontacts are conductively attached to the driver chip 190. Additionally,one of the contacts may be directly attached to the first electrodelayer 120, and may serve as a reference for the second electrode layer160

The driver chip 190 may be physically attached to the second glass orplastic substrate 170, and may be conductively attached to the positivecontact 182 and the negative contact 180. Further, there may beadditional contacts (not shown) for conductive control signals, andthere may be an antenna (not shown) for wireless signals. Alternately,control signals may be piggybacked onto the power supply voltage.

The electrode, alignment and liquid crystal layers combine to form anelectro-active cell that is held between the upper and lower substratelayers. It will be understood that additional layers may also beincluded in the electro-active cell.

In some embodiments, the electrode layers 120 and 160 are formed on thinparallel glass or plastic sheets or slides and are covered with thealignment layers 130 and 150 to orient the molecules in the liquidcrystal material. One or more of the electrodes may be patterned toallow for the designed optical effect. For example, if purely sphericalpower is required, then the pattern may comprise of a set ofindividually addressable concentric ring electrodes. If phase wrappingis used, the electrodes may be ganged or grouped to reduce the number ofcontacts needed to drive the lens. If a general or arbitrary opticaleffect is desired, for example a wave front correction for higher orderaberrations, then the individually addressable pattern may comprise aCartesian grid. The spacers 140 may be used to create a constant gapthickness that is filled with liquid crystal or other electro-activematerial. A driver chip may be mounted on one side of the electro-activelens assembly and electrical contacts are made through a group of viasdrilled or cut or etched in the glass or plastic substrate.

If a polarization dependent nematic liquid crystal is used, then twoelectro-active lens assemblies like the one shown above may be stackedand oriented at a 90-degree angle to eliminate the effects ofbirefringence.

Alternatively, the solid electrode 120 may be converted to a patternedelectrode and a common reference electrode placed in the center of thecell with a liquid crystal layer on each side of the common electrode.The common electrode may be constructed from a thin piece of glass oroptical grade plastic coated with a transparent conductor on each side.The alignment layers on the two patterned electrodes may be oriented at90-degrees from one another. In some embodiments, it may also bedesirable to place an alignment layer on each side of the commonelectrode, which would be applied over the transparent conductor layersmaking up the common electrode, and oriented at 90-degree angles withone another. It will be understood that if a common reference electrodeis added to the cell, one or more additional conductors/vias may beadded to allow voltage application from the driver circuit to the newpatterned electrode. Additional vias may also be used to make electricalcontact between the new common electrode and the driver circuit.

If a cholesteric liquid crystal is used, then only a single cell will berequired to produce the optical power For the sake of simplicity we willlimit the present discussion to cholesteric liquid crystal designs, withthe understanding that the techniques described herein are applicable tonematic liquid crystal designs as well.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the electro-active lens element 100 showingan illustrative configuration for the electrical contacts 180, 182. Thecontacts 180, 182 may be formed from a mostly or fully transparentconductive material such as, by way of example only, ITO. As shown inFIG. 2, the negative contact 180 may be configured to cover asubstantial area, and may connect through a bus to the driver chip 190.The positive contact 182 may also cover a substantial area and mayconnect through a bus to the driver chip 190. The driver chip 190 may bemounted in an area free of electrically conductive material (except thepositive and negative buses), so that the various output pins (notshown) of the driver chip will not be shorted out. In this manner, powerfrom a battery or other power source, can be provided to the chip 190and for powering the electro-active lens 100, by simply making anelectrical contact to the positive contact 182 and negative contact 180of the electro-active lens assembly 100. Other geometric layouts of theelectrical contacts may prove convenient, and the chip 190 may be movedto other locations.

It will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art thatalthough one contact is designated as a positive contact and one isdesignated a negative contact, the positive and negative polarity may bereversed

With reference to FIGS. 3A and 3B, an illustrative embodiment of theinvention combines an electro-active lens element of the type describedabove in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a pair of lens wafers to produce a compositelens assembly 300 having a fixed or base power.

FIG. 3A displays an expanded view of the composite lens assembly 300.The elements of the composite lens assembly are:

-   -   a front lens wafer 310,    -   a first adhesive layer 320,    -   an electro-active lens 330 (for example, the electro-active lens        described in FIGS. 1 and 2),    -   a positive battery terminal wire 340 and a negative battery        terminal wire 350,    -   a second adhesive layer 322, and    -   a back lens wafer 360.

The front lens wafer 310 may have a substantially flat lower surface.Alternately, the interior lower surface of the front lens wafer 310 maybe curved to match a curved electro-active lens assembly. The front lenswafer 310 may be constructed from glass or optical grade plastics, suchas, by way of example only, CR39, polycarbonate, or high index polymers.The front lens wafer 310 may be constructed from different materialsthan the back lens wafer, for example one from glass and one fromplastic. The front lens wafer 310 may have substantially flat upper andlower surfaces, and thus have plano (or null) refractive power The uppersurface of front lens wafer 310 may be curved, and thus createrefractive power. The substantially flat lower surface of front lenswafer 310 is adjacent to the substantially flat first adhesive layer320.

The first adhesive layer 320 may be flexible or rigid, and may beindex-matched, the index of refraction may be matched to the index ofrefraction of the adjacent wafer. The substantially flat lower surfaceof first adhesive layer 320 is adjacent to the substantially flatelectro-active lens assembly 330.

The electro-active lens assembly 330 may be or comprise theelectro-active lens assembly 100 as shown in FIG. 1, for example. Thesubstantially flat lower side of electro-active lens assembly 330 mayhave a positive contact area and a negative contact area as shown inFIG. 1 and in FIG. 2. These contact areas ale positioned adjacent to theupper surface of positive battery terminal wire 340 and the uppersurface of negative battery terminal wire 350. Said wires may also beflat strips. Said wires may be attached to alternate power sources, suchas storage capacitors or solar cells

Alternately, in one embodiment (not shown) the electro-active lensassembly 330 may have a smaller diameter than the lens wafers 310 and360, and also may have a smaller diameter than lens the adhesive layers320 and 322. In this embodiment, the adhesive layers would be squeezedaround the electro-active lens assembly, and would effectivelyencapsulate it. In this embodiment, material may be removed from aroundthe edge of the composite lens assembly 300 without contacting ordestroying the contacts or the liquid crystal of the electro-active lensassembly 330. Thus, in this embodiment the composite lens assembly 300may be capable of being edged.

Alternately, in another embodiment (not shown), the electro-active lensassembly 330 may have a smaller diameter than the lens wafers, and maybe surrounded by a space. Thus, in this embodiment the composite lensassembly 300 may be capable of being edged.

The positive battery terminal wire 340 may terminate in a flat stripwith an area corresponding to and aligned with the positive contact area(for example, contact area 282 as shown in FIG. 2) of the electro-activeassembly 330 Negative battery terminal wire 350 may terminate in asimilar fashion. The lower surface of positive battery terminal wire 340and the lower surface of negative battery terminal wire 350 are adjacentto substantially flat upper surface of the second adhesive layer 322.

The second adhesive layer 322 is similar in form and function to theupper adhesive layer 320. The substantially flat lower surface of thesecond adhesive layer 322 is adjacent to the substantially flat uppersurface of back lens wafer 360

Note that the second adhesive layer may deform about the batteryterminal wires so as to fill the spaces between the battery terminalwire 340 and battery terminal wire 350, and thus effectively provide asingle layer with substantially flat sides.

Additionally, note that the battery terminal wires 340 and 350 may berouted approximately perpendicularly downward through vias (not shown)in the second adhesive layer 322 and vias (not shown) in the back lenswafer 360. When the wires 340 and 350 are routed perpendicularly, andwhen the diameter of the electro-active lens assembly is reduced (asdiscussed above), then the composite lens assembly 300 may be edged

Edging is a well known technique in the art of optics wherein a lens (orthe composite lens assembly 300) has material removed from the edge inorder to properly position the edged lens inside of a frame relative tothe environment For example, typically an optometrist or opticianpositions an empty spectacle frame on the patient's face, then makesseveral measurements, and then edges a lens so that it is properlypositioned and aligned inside of the spectacle frame relative to thepatient's eye.

The back lens wafer 360 is similar in form and function to the frontlens wafer 310. Together, the front lens wafer 310 and the back lenswafer 360 may provide a fixed or base refractive power to the totaloptical power of composite lens assembly 300. Alternately, the wafersmay be piano (have no optical power), and merely serve structuralpurposes.

FIG. 3B displays an assembled view of the composite lens assembly 300with a fixed or base power. Specifically, FIG. 3B shows the individualelements of FIG. 3A in an assembled or compressed view The adhesivelayers 320 and 322 hold the composite lens assembly 300 together.

With reference to FIGS. 4A and 4B, an illustrative embodiment of theinvention combines an electro-active lens element of the type describedabove in FIGS. 1 and 2 with a pair of lens wafers to produce a compositelens assembly 400 having a fixed or base power Further, FIGS. 4A and 4Bintroduce screws or fastener's 470 to provide additional mechanicalstrength to the composite lens. Note that the adhesive layers becomeoptional when the screws or fasteners are introduced.

FIG. 4A displays an expanded view of an embodiment of a composite lensassembly 400 with a fixed or base power and with screws or fasteners.The layers are:

-   -   a front lens wafer 410,    -   an first adhesive layer 420,    -   an electro-active lens assembly 430 (for example, the        electro-active lens described in FIG. 1),    -   a positive battery terminal wire 440 and a negative battery        terminal wire 450,    -   a second adhesive layer 422, and    -   a back lens wafer 460.

Additionally, note the screw or fastener 470 and the nut or fastener 480may be used to add additional support to the composite lens assembly.Screws or fasteners may be particularly useful in rimless spectacleframes, because the screw or fastener may be attached directly to therimless spectacle frames. In some embodiments the screw or fastener mayserve as a conductive path in place of a battery terminal wire Also,these mounting screws or fasteners may be used to secure theelectro-active lens assembly 400 to a spectacle frame (not shown). Thefirst adhesive layer 420 and second adhesive layer 422 are optionalbecause the screw or fastener 470 and the nut or fastener 480 mayprovide adequate support for the composite lens assembly 400.Additionally, the positive battery terminal wire 440 and negativebattery terminal wire 450 are optional because the power may beconducted through the fasteners 470 and 480.

Routing the power through the screws or fasteners provides additionalbenefits Specifically, if the electro-active lens assembly has a smallerdiameter than the wafers (and possibly surrounded by a spacer asdiscussed above), then the composite lens assembly 400 is capable ofbeing edged.

Edging is a well known technique in the art of optics wherein a lens (orthe composite lens assembly 400) has material removed from the edge inorder to properly position the edged lens inside of a frame relative tothe environment. For example, typically an optometrist or opticianpositions an empty spectacle frame on the patient's face, then makesseveral measurements, and then edges a lens so that it is properlypositioned and aligned inside of the spectacle frame relative to thepatient's eye. Edging composite lens assembly 400 (with power routedthrough the screws or fasteners) would not damage any electricalconnections, and would not damage the liquid crystal. With the exceptionof the screw or fastener 470 and the nut or fastener 480, the otherelements are the same as those previously described with respect to FIG.3A composite lens assembly 300.

FIG. 4B displays an assembled view of the composite lens assembly 400with a fixed or base power; and including screws or fasteners

FIG. 5 displays an embodiment of a composite lens assembly 510 mountedinside of a spectacle flame 500. The composite lens assembly 510 may,for example, be similar to the composite lens assembly 300 of FIGS. 3Aand 3B may be mounted inside of spectacle frame 500.

Specifically, in FIG. 5 positive terminal wire 540 and negative terminalwire 550 electrically connect the electro-active lens assembly to apower supply such as a battery 570 attached to a frame stem 560. Thewires (540 and 550) may be light gauge wires, or may be conductivestrips.

The frame in FIG. 5 is a hinge-free design, but a hinged frame can alsobe used without deviating from the scope of the present invention. Whilethe figure illustrates placement of the battery or power source on theframe stem, the power source may also be placed in or on the lens,adjacent to the lens, on or inside the bridge, nose pad, hinge, or wherethe hinge meets the frame front, which would potentially allow forshorter connections between the power source and the lenses. However, ifthe battery is relatively large, then one comfortable battery placementmay be where the spectacle flame stem rests upon the ear, so that theear carries the weight. The power supply may comprise a battery, acapacitor, a solar cell, or some combination of these power sources. Forexample, a solar cell may charge a capacitor. Further, the mechanicalpower of folding closed or opening the spectacle flame stem may be usedto charge a battery or a capacitor.

FIG. 6 illustrates an embodiment of an electro-active lens assembly thatis similar to the embodiment in FIG. 1. However, the electro-active lensassembly 600 of FIG. 6 has positioned the positive contact on the bottomand the negative contact on the top, in contrast to the electro-activelens assembly 100 of FIG. 1 which has positioned both contacts on thebottom. Changing the position of the contacts requires changing theposition of the vias, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

Specifically, FIG. 6 displays a side view an embodiment of anelectro-active lens assembly 600 with positive contact on the bottom andwith negative contact on the top. The layers are:

-   -   a negative contact for battery power 680,    -   a first glass or plastic substrate 610,    -   a first electrode layer 620,    -   an first alignment layer. 630,    -   a liquid crystal layer 642, and a spacer 640,    -   an second alignment layer 650,    -   a second electrode layer 660,    -   a second glass or plastic substrate 670,    -   a positive contact for battery power 682, and    -   a driver chip 690.

Additionally, note a via connection 686 to the first electrode layer620, and an ultra thin wire via connection 688 to the negative contactfor battery power 680, and multiple through hole via connections 684between the driver chip 690 and the patterned electrode layer 660.Electrical contacts through the various vias may be made withtransparent conductors such as ITO, that can be deposited duringiterative lithographic steps, or by ultra thin metal wires, designed forminimizing any adverse cosmetic effects.

Note that the battery contacts 680 and 682 are physically separated andplaced on the top and bottom of the electro-active lens respectively.This physical separation decreases the possibility of short circuits,and simplifies placing the terminal wires.

Thus, the electro-active lens assembly 600 is almost identical to theelectro-active lens assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1, except for therelocation of the negative contact for battery power to the oppositeside of the electro-active lens assembly, and except for the new relatedvia 688.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate bottom and top views of the electro-activelens element 600 from FIG. 6, showing an illustrative configuration forthe electrical contacts 680 and 682.

Specifically, FIG. 7A displays the underside of the electro-active lensassembly 600 which shows the positive contact 682 which is connected toa driver chip 690. FIG. 7B shows the top of the electro-active lensassembly 600 which shows the negative contact 680. The negative contact680 is connected to the driver chip 690 through a wire via 688. As shownin FIG. 6, the via 688 passes through the upper substrate 610, the firstelectrode layer, the spacer 640 in the liquid crystal layer, the secondelectrode layer 660 and the lower substrate 670 to the driver chip 690.The electro-active lens assembly 600 may be powered or charged throughthe positive contact 682 and negative contact 680. In addition to power,the positive contact 682 and the negative contact 680 may carry anembedded control signal to communicate with the driver chip 690.

With reference to FIGS. 8A and 8B, an illustrative embodiment of theinvention combines an electro-active lens assembly of the type describedabove in FIGS. 6 and 7 with a pair of lens wafers to produce a compositelens assembly 800 having a fixed or base power

FIG. 8A displays an expanded view 800 of an embodiment of a compositelens assembly with an electro-active lens assembly that has batterycontacts on opposite sides. From top to bottom, FIG. 8A displays:

-   -   a front lens wafer 810,    -   a first adhesive layer 820,    -   a negative battery terminal wire or strip 850,    -   an electro-active lens assembly 830 with battery contacts on        opposite sides (like electro-active lens assembly 600 in FIG.        6),    -   a positive battery terminal wire or strip 840,    -   a second adhesive layer 822, and    -   a back lens wafer 860.

The composite lens assembly 800 is similar to composite lens assembly300 in FIG. 3A, except that the position of the negative batteryterminal wire has been moved to the opposite side of the electro-activelens assembly 830 to follow the movement of the negative contact to theupper side of the electro-active lens assembly 830. Thus, the compositelens assembly 800 has battery terminal wires separated by the body ofthe electro-active lens assembly 830. This separation allows (but doesnot require) the battery terminal wires to exit the composite lensassembly 800 in the same radial direction For example, in FIG. 8A bothbattery terminal wires exit to the left, and may be easily gangedtogether or joined into a bus.

Although not shown, composite lens assembly 800 may be joined byfasteners or screws, and the fasteners or screws may be used to conductthe electrical power.

FIG. 8B displays an assembled view of the composite lens assembly 800with the negative battery terminal wire near the positive batteryterminal wire.

While the geometries discussed herein and illustrated in the figures areflat, it is conceivable that curved parallel surfaces could also beemployed that would allow for thinner composite lenses to be fashionedby the assembly methods described herein In embodiments where theelectro-active lens assembly is curved, one of the two wafers may beeliminated as the electro-active lens assembly would provide one of thetwo curved surfaces required to complete the distance vision opticalpower.

It will be readily under stood by those persons skilled in the art thatthe present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application.Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other thanthose herein described, as well as many variations, modifications andequivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggestedby the present invention and foregoing description thereof, withoutdeparting from the substance or scope of the invention.

While the foregoing illustrates and describes exemplary embodiments ofthis invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limitedto the construction disclosed herein. The invention can be embodied inother specific forms without departing from the spirit or essentialattributes.

1. A composite lens assembly having a fixed lens, comprising: a. aelectro-active lens assembly; and b. a first adhesive layer and a secondadhesive layer, wherein said electro-active lens assembly is disposedbetween said first and said second adhesive layers, and wherein at leastone of said first and said second adhesive layers is adapted forsecuring said electro-active lens assembly to the fixed lens layer ofthe lens assembly.
 2. The composite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein atleast one of said first and said second adhesive layers is adapted forsecuring said electro-active lens assembly to a second electro-activelens assembly.
 3. The composite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein saidelectro-active lens assembly is spaced from the peripheral edge.
 4. Thecomposite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of said firstand said second adhesive layers is adapted to encapsulate components forproviding electricity to said electro-active lens assembly from aneyeglass frame
 5. The composite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein atleast one of said first and said second adhesive layers is formed from aflexible material.
 6. The composite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein atleast one of said first and said second adhesive layers is formed from arigid material.
 7. The composite lens assembly of claim 1 wherein atleast one of said first and said second adhesive layers is substantiallyflat.
 8. The composite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein said fixed lenslayer has a first index of refraction and wherein at least one of saidfirst and said second adhesive layers has a second index of refractionthat substantially matches said first index of refraction.
 9. Thecomposite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein said electro-active lensassembly has a first index of refraction and wherein at least one ofsaid first and said second adhesive layers has a second index ofrefraction that substantially matches said first index of refraction.10. The composite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein the radial diameterof at least one of said first and said second adhesive layers issubstantially greater than the radial diameter of said electro-activelens assembly.
 11. The composite lens assembly of claim 1, wherein saidelectro-active lens assembly further comprises: c. a liquid crystallayer; and d. a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer,wherein said liquid crystal layer is disposed between said first andsaid second electrode layers
 12. The composite lens assembly of claim11, wherein said electro-active lens assembly further comprises: e. adriver chip in electrical communication with said first and secondelectrode layers for controlling application of electrical power to saidfirst and second electrode layers; and f. at least one electricalcontact layer in electrical communication with said driver chip, whereinsaid at least one electrical contact layer has a first contact area anda second contact area, wherein said second contact area is electricallyisolated from the first contact area.
 13. The composite lens assembly ofclaim 12, wherein said first and said second electrical contact areasare formed from a substantially transparent material.
 14. The compositelens assembly of claim 12, wherein said at least one electrical contactlayer comprises Indium Tin Oxide.
 15. The composite lens assembly ofclaim 11, wherein at least one of said first and said second electrodelayers comprises glass or plastic.
 16. The composite lens assembly ofclaim 1, wherein said electro-active lens assembly compriseselectro-active material that includes liquid crystalline material. 17.The composite lens assembly of claim 16, wherein said liquid crystallinematerial includes nematic liquid crystals.
 18. The composite lensassembly of claim 16, wherein said liquid crystalline material includescholesteric liquid crystals.
 19. The composite lens assembly of claim11, wherein said electro-active lens assembly further comprises a firstalignment layer disposed between said liquid crystal layer and saidfirst electrode layer.
 20. The composite lens assembly of claim 18,wherein said electro-active lens assembly further comprises a secondalignment layer disposed between said liquid crystal layer and saidsecond electrode layer.